A61F7/00—Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body

A61F7/02—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling

A61F2007/0225—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof

A61F2007/0233—Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling connected to the body or a part thereof connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for inducing therapeutic levels of hypothermia in a patient in the emergent care setting. The system consists of a small battery operated console and one or more garments. The garments are connected to the console by one or more umbilicals. The console provides cold fluid to the garments under pressure and the garment cools the surface of the body. Fluid returns from the garment back to the console in a closed loop fashion. The console contains an electrical battery and a thermal battery that provides operation of the system for more than one hour. The cooling capacity of the system is sufficient to induce therapeutic levels of hypothermia in approximately 30 to 90 minutes in most patients. Use of the system does not preclude any therapeutic or diagnostic interventions that are commonly performed in the emergent care setting.

This invention relates to a method, device, and system for rapidly inducing protective levels of hypothermia in the brain and the body.

2. Description of Prior Art

Patients suffering from stroke, cardiac arrest, or head trauma, or have undergone invasive brain or vascular surgery are at risk from secondary ischemic brain injury. Secondary ischemic brain injury is a result of the innate healing response of the brain to the original insult caused by several not completely understood mechanisms. Regardless of the specific mechanisms involved, the end result is swelling of the brain caused by edema, which can lead to a critical or terminal rise in intra-cranial pressure, or cell death and loss of brain function.

Patients suffering heart attack often suffer damage to their heart due to secondary injury caused by ischemia. Ischemic damage to the heart is the main cause of death and disability following heart attack.

It has long been known that hypothermia is neuroprotective. Hypothermia has a positive affect on all know mechanisms that lead to secondary brain injury. Hypothermia is routinely used during brain and other invasive surgeries to protect the brain from surgical interruptions in blood flow. Hypothermia has also been shown to be effective in controlling swelling of the brain in trauma and stroke patients.

It has been more recently discovered the hypothermia is effective at protecting the heart from secondary ischemic injury due to heart attack.

The effectiveness of hypothermia is a function of depth, duration, and the amount of time that elapses between the original insult and achievement of protective levels of hypothermia; the earlier, deeper (within a range of 30° C. and 35° C.), and/or the longer hypothermia is applied the more protective it is. However, hypothermia has historically been applied systemically, and the depth and duration of hypothermia is limited by the patient's ability to tolerate the therapy.

Systemic hypothermia has historically been accomplished by immersion of the patient's body in a cool bath. Today there are several commercial systemic hypothermia systems available. They consist of blankets or pads where cooled water is circulated through channels in the walls of the blanket or pad, and the patient's body is maintained in intimate contact. Medivan Corp. manufactures an example of a modern hypothermia system under the trade name Arctic Sun Cooling System.

Systemic hypothermia has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing secondary injury from stroke, trauma, and surgery however, there are several drawbacks to this approach: 1) It may take several hours to lower a patient's body to therapeutic temperatures. This delay in achieving therapeutic temperatures allows for the progression of irreversible secondary injury to the brain and heart. 2) Hypothermia cannot be initiated until after the patient has been admitted to the hospital. 3) The entire patient's body is cooled in a slow and uniform manner; protective levels of hypothermia in the brain is not achieved until the whole body reaches protective levels of hypothermia.

Attempts have been made to induce hypothermia by cooling the surface of the head. A company, Flexoversal from Hiden, Germany manufactures a head cooling device under the trade name of “Hypotherm Gel Cap” This device is a head cap with a gel substance within its walls. The “Gel Cap” is placed into a freezer prior to use, then is fitted to the head of a patient. The gel within the walls of the cap absorbs heat from the head. Also, described in the art are cooling caps that have cold fluid circulating through the walls of the cap to absorb heat from the head. Reports from clinical trials using such devices have been disappointing in that they have not been effective in inducing hypothermia in patients. Although, theoretically these devises should be capable in inducing hypothermia, there are several practical limitations in design of the devices, and in the way they are used that limits effectiveness. A significant problem is that hair; especially dry hair is a very effective insulator. There is significant variation from patient to patient in the thickness of hair on the head, and its distribution. A device that does not address the insulating effect of hair, and its variability among patients is will ineffective in inducing hypothermia in a consistent manner. A second significant problem with head cooling described in the art is that the cooling medium (gel, or circulating water) is separated from the head by the material that the device is made of. Most devices described in the art are made of plastic or woven material, both of which are highly insulative and greatly reduce the amount of heat that is transferred from the head into the cooling medium.

Nowhere in the art is it suggested that directing evenly distributed jets of saline at near 0° C. at the scalp in a vigorous manner will effectively and consistently induce hypothermia regardless of the amount of hair on the head, or its distribution on the head. Nowhere described in the art is a means of directing evenly distributed jets of saline at the scalp and a means of scavenging the saline for reuse in a closed loop system. Nowhere described in the art is a system consisting of: a small portable console, and a head cooling device, where the head cooling device is connected to the console by an umbilical, where the head cooling device and console work in a continuous operational relationship with each other to direct jets of saline at near 0° C. in an evenly distributed manner at the scalp, to then scavenge the expended saline from the vicinity of the head and return the expended saline to the console where the saline is then cooled to near 0° C. and where the saline is then returned to the head cooling device where it is once again directed at the scalp.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing secondary ischemic injury in patients with an ischemic condition by inducing hypothermia. In accordance with one aspect of this invention, hypothermia is induced by placing a cooling device on the head of a patient, then cooling the head of the patient thereby cooling the body of the patient. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia is provided that is portable, and may used by emergency medical personnel in the pre-hospital setting. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method and apparatus is provided that induces hypothermia such that the brain is cooled first and to a greater degree than the rest of the body. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method and apparatus is provided that effectively cools the head, and thereby cools the body, where the effectiveness the head cooling is unaffected by the thickness of the patient's hair or its distribution on the head. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, and a portable console, where the head-cooling device and the console are connected by an umbilical. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device and a portable console where the head-cooling device and the console work in operational relationship to direct evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid at the scalp of a patient to cool the scalp, thereby cooling the body of the patient. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device and a portable console where the head-cooling device and the console work in a closed loop operational relationship where the console provides a means of providing cooling fluid to the head-cooling device under pressure, and where the head-cooling device directs evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid at the scalp of the patient, and where the head-cooling device and the console provide a means to scavenge the cooling fluid from the head-cooling device and return the scavenged cooling fluid to the console. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device and a portable console, where the console contains a rechargeable electrical battery and a rechargeable thermal battery, where the electrical battery provides energy to the electrical components within the console, and the thermal battery provides a means to remove heat from the cooling fluid, and therefore the patients body. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device and a portable console, where the console, in conjunction with the head-cooling device provides cooling for a period of time based on the electrical energy stored in the electrical battery, and the thermal absorbsion capacity stored in the thermal battery. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device and a portable console, where the console contains a cooling fluid reservoir and a thermal battery, where the cooling fluid reservoir, and the thermal battery are modular, and may be quickly removed from the console and replaced. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, a neck-cooling device, and a portable console, where the head-cooling device and the neck-cooling device are connected to the console by a common umbilical, or by separate umbilicals. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, a neck-cooling device, and a portable console, where the head-cooling device is a cap or a helmet that is fitted to the patient's head, and where the neck-cooling device is a collar that is fitted to the patients neck. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, a neck-cooling device and a portable console, where the neck-cooling device is a collar which contains fluid channels within its walls, and where the console provides a means to circulate cooling fluid through said fluid channels to provide neck cooling. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, a neck-cooling device, and a portable console, where the head-cooling device may be used in conjunction with the neck-cooling device, or without the neck-cooling device. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for inducing hypothermia includes a head-cooling device, a neck-cooling device and a portable console, where the head-cooling device consists of a cap which contains fluid channels within the wall of the cap, and where the console provides a means to circulate cooling fluid through said fluid channels in the cap to provide head cooling. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method of preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of a patient. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method of preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of the patient using a head-cooling device and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method of preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of the patient using a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a portable console. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a method of preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of the patient using a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a console where the console is provided electrical energy from a wall outlet, and cooling is provided by a refrigeration unit. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of the patient using a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a console where the console is provided electrical energy from a wall outlet, and cooling is provided by a refrigeration unit. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where evenly distributed jets of cooling fluid is directed at the scalp of the patient using a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a portable console. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where the head of the patient is cooled with a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled with a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a portable console. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, apparatus for preventing secondary ischemic injury in a patient with an ischemic condition is provided where the head of the patient is cooled using a head-cooling device, and the neck of the patient is cooled using a neck-cooling device, where the means of cooling the head and the neck is provided by a console where the console is provided electrical energy from a wall outlet, and cooling is provided by a refrigeration unit.

Objects and Advantages

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the method and apparatus to induce hypothermia to prevent secondary ischemic injury in patients with an ischemic condition described in my patent above, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

(a) to provide a method of inducing hypothermia in a patient at risk of secondary ischemic injury rapidly;

(b) to provide a method of initiating hypothermia therapy in a patient at risk of secondary ischemic injury prior to arrival at the hospital;

(c) to provide a method of inducing hypothermia in a patient at risk of secondary ischemic injury where protective levels of hypothermia is rapidly and preferentially induced in the brain;

(d) to provide a method of inducing hypothermia in a patient at risk of secondary ischemic injury where protective levels of hypothermia is induced in the brain within 5 to 30 minutes, and where protective levels of hypothermia is induced in the body within 30 to 90 minutes;

(e) to provide a method of rapidly inducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, or upon arrival at the hospital in a patient with cardiac arrest;

(f) to provide a method of rapidly inducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, or upon arrival at the hospital in a patient with acute myocardial infarction;

(g) to provide a method of rapidly inducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, or upon arrival at the hospital in a patient with brain trauma;

(h) to provide a method of rapidly inducing hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting, or upon arrival at the hospital in a patient with stroke;

(i) to provide apparatus for inducing hypothermia in a patient at risk of secondary ischemic injury according to the objectives stated above;

(j) to provide a body cooling system that consists of a head-cooling device, and a console;

(k) to provide a body cooling system that consists of a head-cooling device, a neck cooling device, and a console;

(l) to provide a body cooling system that is non-invasive, and does not require specialized skills to apply;

(m)to provide a body cooling system that is compatible with emergency medical treatment practices;

(n) to provide a portable body cooling system that is capable of providing cooling for 1 to 4 hours using internal batteries;

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts the body cooling system showing the cooling cap and the console, as well as the umbilical connecting the cooling cap to the console.

FIG. 2 depicts the body cooling system showing the cooling cap, the cooling collar and console, as well as the umbilical connecting the cooling cap and cooling collar to the console.

FIG. 3 depicts the inner liner of the cooling cap.

FIG. 4A depicts the front view of the cooling collar. FIG. 4B depicts the side view of the cooling collar.

FIG. 5 depicts a sectional view of the construction of the cooling collar.

FIG. 2 depicts the body cooling system with cooling cap 1 connected to console 2 as depicted in FIG. 1, with cooling collar 13 also connected to console 2 by an umbilical comprising cooling fluid inlet tube 14, and cooling fluid return tube 15. The cooling collar 13 is removably connected to the console 2 by tube fittings 16 mounted on the end of cooling fluid inlet tube 14, and cooling fluid return tube 15, and tube fitting receptacles 17 mounted on console 2. Tube fittings 16 and tube fitting receptacles 17 are readily commercially available. Console 2 provides cold saline to cooling cap 1 as described in FIG. 1, and also provides cold saline to cooling collar 13 under pressure. The cold saline circulates through channels in the wall of cooling collar 13 to cool the neck of the patient (see FIG. 4) and returns to the console through cooling fluid return tube 15.

FIG. 3 depicts the inner liner 18 of cooling cap 1 (FIGS. 1 & 2). Inner liner 18 consists of inner shell 25, and outer shell 26. Inner shell 25 and outer shell 26 are molded from an elastomer material such as silicone rubber. Inner shell 25, and outer shell 26 are bonded together with adhesive. Channels molded in inner shell 25 form fluid channels 21, and aspiration channel 23 once the inner shell 25, and outer shell 26 are bonded together. Inlet manifold 19 is in fluid communication with fluid channels 21. Aspiration manifold(s) 20 are in fluid communication with aspiration channel 23. Inlet manifold is connected to cooling fluid inlet tube 3 (FIG. 1) with tube fitting (not shown). Aspiration manifold(s) is connected to aspiration tube 4 (FIG. 1) with tube fitting (not shown). Fluid jets 22 are located incrementally along fluid channels 21 as shown. Aspiration ports 24 are located incrementally along aspiration channel 23 as shown. Cold saline enters inner liner 18 through inlet manifold under pressure as provided by console 2, and cooling fluid inlet tube 3 (FIG. 1). The cold saline is distributed through the walls of inner liner 18 by fluid channels 21. The cold saline exits fluid channels 21 through fluid jets 22 which direct the cold saline at the patient's head. Cooling jets 22 are holes through the wall of inner shell 25 and are sized such that the cold saline exits the fluid channel with sufficient velocity that the saline penetrates the patients hair, and reaches the patients scalp. Fluid jets are between 0.010 and 0.040 inches in diameter. The inner liner 18 contains between 25 and 150 fluid jets 22 which provides for even distribution of saline about the patient's head. Cold saline is provided to the inner liner 18 at a pressure of between 5 PSI and 50 PSI by the control console 2 (FIGS. 1 & 2). Suction is applied to aspiration manifold(s) 20 by the console 2 and aspiration tube 4 (FIGS. 1 & 2) which is in fluid communication with aspiration channel 23. Air and saline are drawn into aspiration channel 23 through aspiration ports 24 and is returned to console 2 through aspiration tube 4 (FIG. 1). The combination of suction, and the construction of aspiration channel 23 as shown when placed on a patient's head induces a pressure between the patient's head and inner liner 18 below atmospheric pressure thereby containing the saline under the inner liner 18.

FIG. 4A depicts a front view of cooling collar 13. Cooling collar 13 consists of cooling fluid inlet tube 14, cooling fluid return tube 15, inlet manifold 27, outlet manifold 28, cooling channels 29 (shown in phantom) formed between inner layer 34 (opposite surface shown), and outer layer 33, Velcro® hook 30 (opposite surface shown), Velcro® loop 31, and tracheotomy hole 32. Cold saline is supplied to cooling collar 13 by console 2 (FIG. 2) under pressure through cooling fluid inlet tube 14. Cold saline enters cooling collar 13 through inlet manifold 27, then flows through multiple cooling channels 29 as shown, and exits cooling collar 13 through outlet manifold 28, and is returned to console 2 (FIG. 2) through cooling fluid return tube 15. Cooling collar 13 is wrapped around the patient's neck in a circular manner and fasted with Velcro hook® 30, and Velcro® loop 31. Tracheotomy hole 32 is positioned over the patient's trachea to provide for emergency tracheotomy. Inner layer 34 is bonded to outer layer 33 by adhesive, or by a thermal bonding method depending on the material selected for the inner layer 34, and outer layer 33. Cooling channels are formed by masking, where there is no bond between inner layer 34, and outer layer 33. Inner layer 34 is formed from a sheet of polymer, or metal foil, or a lamination of polymer and metal foil. Inner layer 34 is between 0.001 and 0.008 inches thick. Outer layer 33 is formed from a sheet of polymer and is between 0.015 and 0.125 inches thick. Inlet manifold 27, and outlet manifold 28 are integrated into the cooling collar 13 during the bonding process (see FIG. 5). Velcro® hook 30, and Velcro® loop are bonded to cooling collar 13 with adhesive and thread. Cooling fluid inlet tube 14, and cooling fluid return tube 15 are made from vinyl tubing or a suitable equivalent and are 0.25 to 0.375 inches in diameter and have a wall thickness of 0.010 to 0.060. Fluid fittings (not shown) mounted on opposite ends of cooling fluid inlet tube 14, and cooling fluid return tube 15 provide removable connection to console 2 (FIG. 2). FIG. 4B depicts a side view of cooling collar 13. Cooling collar 13 is between 4 and 6 inches high, and has a length of between 12 and 20 inches to accommodate the circumference of a variety of patient's necks. The construction of the Velcro® fastening means 30 & 31 as shown provides for proper fit among various patients.

FIG. 5 depicts in sectional view the attachment of both the inlet manifold 27, and outlet manifold 28 to cooling collar 13. Cooling fluid inlet tube 14 is joined to inlet manifold 27 using adhesive 37, or a barbed tube fitting (not shown). Spacer 35 separates inner layer 34 from outer layer 33 about the circumference of manifold stem 39. Hole 38 is in radial alignment with a hole (not shown) in spacer 35. Inner liner 34 is sandwiched between spacer 35 and washer 36. The assembly is held together with adhesive 37, or is thermally bonded together. Cold saline flows from cooling fluid inlet tube 14 into inlet manifold 27, though hole 38, and through hole (not shown) in space 35 and into fluid channels 29.

FIG. 7 depicts in schematic form the thermal battery 42. Thermal battery 42 consists of housing 72, heat exchanger 71 consisting of heat exchanger tube 75 and optionally heat exchanger fins 74, fluid inlet fitting 76, fluid outlet fitting 77, cooling medium 73, and handle 78. Housing 72 contains heat exchanger 71 and cooling medium 73 and is molded from a polymer such as high-density polyethylene. Cooling medium 73 is a liquid solution or water, which has the property of freezing and melting at a constant temperature. Heat exchanger 71 consists of a length of heat exchanger tube 75, which provides a fluid path for saline 68 (FIG. 6) internal to housing 72 where heat exchanger tube 75 is surrounded by and in thermal contact with cooling medium 73. Heat exchanger tube 75 may be constructed from stainless steel tubing and has an inner diameter between 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches, and has a wall thickness between 0.005 and 0.020 inches. The shape heat exchanger tube 75 may be serpentine as shown, or some other shape. The straight-line length of heat exchanger tube 75 is between 12 inches and 120 inches. Metal heat exchanger fins 74 may be bonded to heat exchanger tube 75 to enhance heat transfer from cooling medium 73 to saline 68 (FIG. 6) as it passes through heat exchanger tube 75. Housing 72 is constructed so that thermal battery 42 functions as a cassette and may be placed into, and removed from console 2 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 6). Console 2 (FIGS. 1, 2, & 6) is designed to receive thermal battery 42 as a cassette and is configured to provide easy user access to thermal battery 42, and is configured to provide thermal insulation to thermal battery 42 to prevent absorbsion of ambient heat. Fluid inlet fitting 76, and fluid outlet fitting 77 provide fluid connection to console 2 (FIGS. 1, 2, & 6) and mate with receptacles in console 2. Handle 78 facilitates placement and removal of thermal battery 42 from console 2. Thermal battery 42 is charged by placing thermal battery 42 into a freezer for a period of time sufficient to convert cooling medium 73 from a liquid state to a solid state. Cooling medium 73 reverts back to a liquid state during use in patient cooling by absorbing heat from the patients body as transferred to the thermal battery 42 by circulation of saline 68 as previously described. Cooling medium 73 is formulated to freeze and melt at a temperature between −15 and +10 degrees centigrade. Cooling medium 73 may be a solution of salt water, or a solution of water and another substance, or may be water. Thermal battery 42 contains between 1 and 10 pounds of cooling medium 73, and provides for patient cooling for a duration of between 15 and 240 minutes.

FIG. 8 depicts the reservoir 41 in schematic form. Reservoir 41 consists of housing 79 which contains saline 68 and air 69, fluid outlet pipe 80, fluid return pipe 81, aspiration pipe 82, vacuum pipe 83, cage 84, ball 85, fluid outlet pipe fitting 86, fluid return pipe fitting 87, aspiration pipe fitting 88, and vacuum pipe fitting 89. Housing 79 is molded from a suitable polymer such as high-density polyethylene and has a fluid capacity of 1 to 4 liters. Fluid outlet pipe 80 and fluid outlet pipe fitting 86 provides connection to the low-pressure side of water pump 45 (FIG. 6) and is analogous to fluid tube 57 (FIG. 6). Fluid return pipe 81 and fluid return pipe fitting 87 provide connection to cooling collar fluid return tube receptacle 49 (FIG. 6) and is analogous to fluid tube 56 (FIG. 6). Aspiration pipe 82 and aspiration pipe fitting 88 provides connection to cooling cap aspiration tube receptacle 48 (FIG. 6) and is analogous to fluid tube 55 (FIG. 6). Vacuum pipe 83 and vacuum pipe fitting 89 provide connection to the low pressure side of air pump 44 (FIG. 6) and is analogous to vacuum tube 54 (FIG. 6). Ball 84 is buoyant in water and is held in close proximity of the internal end of vacuum pipe 83 by cage 85. Ball 84 and cage 85 function as a valve to prevent any saline from being drawn into vacuum tube 83 in the event the reservoir 41 does not remain upright as shown. Housing 79 is constructed so that reservoir 41 functions as a cassette and may be placed into, and removed from console 2 (FIGS. 1, 2 & 6). Console 2 (FIGS. 1, 2, & 6) is designed to receive reservoir 41 as a cassette and is configured to provide easy user access to reservoir 41, and is configured to provide thermal insulation to reservoir 41 prevent absorbsion of ambient heat. Connection of the reservoir 41 to apparatus contained in console 2 (FIGS. 1,2, & 6) as described above is provided by a receptacle (not shown) that is integral with console 2.

Alternate Embodiments

The thermal battery may be constructed to be non-rechargeable where within the housing are two chambers where each chamber contains a chemical. The thermal battery is manufactured, sold, and stored where the two chemicals are isolated from each other by chamber walls. Prior to use, the chemicals are mixed together to initiate an exothermal reaction where the reactants are in thermal contact with the heat exchanger and the exothermal reaction results in cooling of the saline as it passes through the heat exchanger. A means is provided for the user to quickly and easily initiate the exothermal reaction by providing a mechanism to disrupt the walls of the chambers separating the two chemicals thereby allowing the two chemicals to mix by diffusion.

The body cooling system disclosed above may be configured where a thermal battery, as a separate component is not required for operation, instead, ice may be placed into the reservoir, where the ice in the reservoir provides body cooling.

The cooling collar may incorporate a cooling means similar to the cooling cap where cold saline is directly applied to the neck, and an aspiration system scavenges the saline.

The cooling fluid may be a liquid other than saline.

The cooling collar may be physically constructed to provide both neck cooling, and head immobilization.

The cooling cap, and the cooling collar may be integrated into a single unit, with a single umbilical.

The cooling cap, and cooling collar may be provided in a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of head sizes and neck sizes, and patient age.

The means of scavenging the saline from the cooling cap may be provided by a means other than aspiration.

The means of applying cold saline directly to the scalp may be provided by a means other than multiple jets.

The console may be configured to be a stationary unit that operates from a wall outlet, and contains a refrigeration unit to provide body cooling.

The body cooling system may include physiological sensors placed on or into the patient to monitor body cooling and control the operation of the consol so as to control body cooling.

The console may have sensors contained within that monitor the operation of the system and control body cooling.

The system may contain interlocks that prevent operation of the system if the user does not operate the system correctly, or the system malfunctions.

The console may contain electronic displays or mechanical indicators that provide the user information on the operation of the system, activation of one or more interlocks, and/or the status of body cooling.

Advantages

From the description above there are a number of advantages my method and apparatus for rapidly inducing hypothermia provides:

(a) The therapeutic agent (hypothermia) for preventing secondary ischemic injury according to this invention is rapidly applied.

(b) The therapeutic agent (hypothermia) for preventing secondary ischemic injury according to this invention may be applied in the pre-hospital setting.

(c) The method and apparatus for rapidly inducing hypothermia according to this invention provides for preferential brain cooling.

(d) The therapeutic agent (hypothermia) for preventing secondary ischemic injury according to this invention may be applied by emergency medical personnel without surgical skill.

(e) The method for and apparatus for rapidly inducing hypothermia provides for a reduction of death and disability from ischemia.

Claims (11)

1. A thermal regulation system, comprising:

a console having:

a fluid reservoir configured to hold a thermal exchange fluid,

a pressure source in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and

a suction source in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and

a thermal regulation device having:

a cap configured to cover at least a portion of a patient's head to define a fluid circulation space into which the thermal exchange fluid can be introduced to contact the patient's head;

at least one inlet coupled to the pressure source and configured to introduce the thermal exchange fluid into the fluid circulation space under positive gage pressure;

at least one outlet coupled to the suction source and configured to withdraw the thermal exchange fluid from the fluid circulation space, the cap further configured to induce negative gage pressure in the fluid circulation space compared to atmospheric pressure outside the fluid circulation space; and

a cooling collar in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.

2. The thermal regulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet comprises an aspiration channel disposed at least partially about a periphery of the cap.

3. The thermal regulation system of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises an outer liner formed of an insulation material.

4. The thermal regulation system of claim 1, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a pressure switch configured to engage a closed position to activate the pressure source when a pressure within the fluid reservoir is below atmospheric pressure.

5. The thermal regulation system of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to induce hypothermia.

6. The thermal regulation system of 1, wherein the negative gage pressure in the fluid circulation space seals an edge of the cap to the patient's head.

7. A method for inducing hypothermia in a patient, comprising:

covering at least a portion of a patient's head with a cap to define a fluid circulation space, the cap having at least one inlet configured to introduce a cooling fluid into the fluid circulation space and at least one outlet configured to withdraw the cooling fluid from the fluid circulation space;

coupling the at least one inlet to a pressure source;

coupling the at least one outlet to a suction source;

activating the pressure source to provide the cooling fluid under positive gage pressure to the fluid circulation space; and

activating the suction source to remove the cooling fluid from the fluid circulation space under negative gage pressure.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one outlet comprises an aspiration channel disposed at least partially about a periphery of the cap.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the cap comprises an outer liner formed of an insulation material.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising:

placing a physiological sensor in proximity to the patient to monitor body cooling of the patient; and

controlling operation of at least one of the pressure source and the suction source based on the monitoring by the physiological sensor to control cooling.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the negative gage pressure in the fluid circulation space seals an edge of the cap to the patient's head.

System for cooling a body part of a patient comprises a portable control unit with a generator of low temperatures, a cover for a body part to be cooled, and hoses for circulation of the cooling medium